The Sun Collective

 Charles Baxter wrote The Sun Collective, a novel set in Minneapolis. I enjoyed reading about Minneapolis as the light rail goes past the football stadium shaped like a Viking ship and past a paint company building. In the story the Mall of America is called Utopia. The main characters are Harold and Alma. Harold goes to Utopia several times a week to get some exercise by walking with his retired friends around the mall. Harold and  Alma have two children. Their daughter lives in North  Carolina. Their son was an actor living in Chicago for a time but now they don't know where he lives. He isn't really missing because he keeps in touch with his sister. Harold and Alma suspect he is living in Minneapolis because they hear from friends who have spotted him from time to time. They suspect he may be homeless. Along with Harold and Alma's story, there is another story about young people in Minneapolis who belong to a group who want to better the world. They set up food banks and community gardens. They help the homeless and the protest the consumerism at Utopia. Harold and Alma approach this group hoping to find their son. The novel is basically a social satire. The relationship between Harold and Alma was entertaining. The social satire was less interesting.